Chinese Village Celebrates Its First Centenarian

A Chinese villager managed to become the first person in the last 16 years to claim a sizeable cash award instituted by the local community, for reaching his 100th birthday.

Liu Guilin, a resident of the Chinese village of Langjiaqiao who recently turned 100 received a prize of over $15,000, becoming the first person to claim this award.

The prize was presented during the celebration of the Double Ninth Festival – a traditional holiday observed on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month which was designated as Senior’s Day in 1989 and when Chinese honor the elderly.

According to the China Daily, in 2001 the Langjiaqiao village committee instituted cash rewards in order to promote a respectful attitude towards the elderly, with 5,000 yuan (about $756) prizes for those who turn 90 and 100,000 yuan (about $15,130) for centenarians.

The head of the local community's senior association also expressed hope that other elderly village residents will be able to claim the big prize as well.